JPS6036340A - Glass sheet supporting frame - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to holding a piece of glass or plate in a vertical or near-vertical position in a frame, particularly in the case of curvature and/or tempering. It is concerned with holding the glass sheet in the frame, such as during reheating, and also when the glass sheet is subject to different handling, such as for transport between different processing stations.

PRIOR ART The lower edge of the glass plate is placed on a horizontal cross member below the frame and cooperates with a pair of stop members (U.S. Pat. No. 2,618,905) or locking members (U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,800).
It is known from US Pat. No. 2,618,905 and US Pat. No. 3,298,809 to support a glass sheet in a frame during tempering by holding its upper part laterally with two connecting rods.

The contact rods cooperating with these upper holding means, stop elements or locking means are of relatively small dimensions in order to avoid interfering with the treatment carried out on the glass pane, so that there is a risk of the glass pane being dislodged. It will no longer hold and will fall, and as it loses its rigidity during heating it will begin to bend and become unnecessarily out of shape due to its own weight.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention avoids the above-mentioned danger of falling glass sheets without interfering with the processing, especially the heat treatment, even when the glass sheets become misshapen and/or bent. Moreover, it is intended to maintain the glass plate in a vertical or near-vertical position.

Structure and Effects of the Invention The present invention is applied to the upper edge of a glass plate which is free to move in the vertical direction, and which allows this glass plate to be brought into contact at any time under the influence of its weight, even when the glass plate loses its shape. The present invention relates to a frame equipped with a retaining means for maintaining the frame in the same condition.

It is known that a holding means formed by a simple piston, which only contacts and holds the upper part of the glass plate, holds this glass plate sufficiently only under the influence of the weight of the glass plate. It is not essential to provide the sides of said holding means with fasteners oriented vertically and adapted to hold the glass pane laterally. However, such a fastener, or preferably a mere bulge, is not incompatible with the holding means, which can reinforce the holding of the glass pane. If the glass plate is held only by its upper edge, or close to it, then its sides are free and do not receive any contact. This glass pane therefore does not suffer from obstacles due to larger lateral holding elements, ie obstruction of access to the processing device and shielding effects, in particular thermal shielding.

Due to this free vertical movement, these holding means can be accompanied by a vertical movement of the upper edge of the glass pane. Even when the glass sheet is bent, this retaining means maintains contact and continues to hold the glass sheet in a vertical or near-vertical position within the frame.

In one particularly advantageous embodiment, each retaining means is formed on a piston, which is vertically displaceable by its weight, so that its jaws close when the downward action of this piston closes. connected to two fasteners.

Therefore, when the glass plate held in the frame is softened, the upper part R is lowered, and the piston forming the upper holding means of the frame is lowered, and this piston covers a portion of the circumference of the upper edge of the glass plate. The glass plate is held by forcing the jaws to close. This fastener thus forms a suspension means for the glass pane within the frame and prevents it from falling out of the frame.

In this embodiment, the two parts of each fastener pivot around the same articulation with a piston cooperating therewith, and the end of each part of the fastener opposite its jaws is fixed relative to the frame. The arm is connected to one axis common to the two arms.

The invention will be explained in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a glass plate j held in a transfer frame 2 by upper holding means, the entirety of which is indicated by 3, and by lower holding means, the entirety of which is indicated by 4.

This frame is attached by members 5 and 6 to a carriage 7 movable on rails 8 so that the glass plate 1 can be transferred (
- Therefore, it is held between different working stations, in particular from the bending section in the furnace for heating the glass to the tempering section.

The frame 2 is made of heat-resistant metal elements. It consists of two upright members 9 and 10 and two horizontal cross members consisting of an upper member 11 and a lower part 12. Advantageously, one more
Two horizontal transverse members J3 are provided at adjustable positions between members 11 and 12. Further advantageously, the lower cross member 1
The height of position 2 is adjustable. Parts 12 and 1
The adjustment of 3 is done in a known manner, for example by drilling a series of holes 4 in the chamber members 9 and 10 at different heights, and arranging the transverse members 12 and 13 in the upright members 9 and 10 with keys 15 at selected heights. It is fixed by inserting it into the hole in the hole. This adjustment allows the frame 2 to be adapted to different heights of the glass panes 1.

For the glass plate, formed into a simple contact block, which can be mounted directly on the cross member 12 or, as shown in FIGS. The lower transverse member 12 carries the support means 4 .

Each of the support members 4 shown in FIG. A horizontal horizontal bar 197 whose central part is fixed to the upper end of the rod 16, which has a U-shape, for example, such that a glass plate J can be inserted between its branches, and a horizontal horizontal bar 197. A contact block 20 is carried on both ends of the rod 19. Preferably, each rod 16 is supported so that it can freely pivot within a hole in the cross member 12 even when it is fixed at a given height.

Advantageously, in order to enable a better adjustment of the support means to the contour and external shape of the glass pane 1, a cross bar is provided between the cross bar 19 and the contact block 207, as shown in FIG. 1
At each end of 9, a horizontal ll1lI is carried by the upper end of a vertical rod 22 which is rotatable around the end of the crossbar 19.
An additional degree of freedom is provided by inserting a vertically swingably mounted platform 21 around the periphery of 22'.

The crossbar] 9 is also vertically swingable about a horizontal axis 16' carried by the upper end of the rod 16.

This assembly forms a complete N-equilibrium in which all horizontal elements can swing vertically and all vertical elements can pivot. Each plant form 21 carries a contact block 20 at both ends thereof.

Advantageously, the executable amplitude of the rocking movements and the executable pivoting movements are limited in order to facilitate the installation of the glass pane in place.

To aid in the alignment of the various contact blocks 20 while they are placed in place on an initially flat glass plate, the upright members 9 and A horizontal ruler 23 connected to 10 is provided, and the lengths of these two arms 24, 25 are such that when only gravity is acting, this foot movement 23 pushes the block 20 and the arms 24 and 25 and the ruler 23. The length is such that the assembly with the frame 2 tends to fall within the vertical plane of the frame 2. When it becomes necessary to remove the alignment of the block 20, for example when the glass plate in place on the frame 2 is bent, this block 20 assumes a pressed position and pushes the ruler 23 back.

The upper holding means is fixed to the three intermediate transverse members 13.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, this cross member 13 is, for example, a square cross-section tube with holes for fixing the holding means 3 at different vertical points thereof.

Each retaining means 3 has a cylindrical sleeve 26 mounted for sliding through one of the vertical holes in the cross member 13.
This sleeve 26 can be fixed in position by a ring 27 arranged around this sleeve above the transverse member 13 and provided with a screw 28 for tightening the bracket sleeve. The piston 3 is oriented in such a way that the piston rod 29 guided in the sleeve 26 contacts with its lower end the upper edge of the glass plate 1 to be held.
0'. Inside this sleeve 26, this rod 29 is free to move in the vertical direction. In order to limit the downward movement of this rod 29, a stop ring 31 is provided at its upper end passing through the sleeve 26, which is fixed to said rod by a screw 32.

In order to optionally assist in the lateral retention of the glass sheet J, the piston is directed downwardly to a slightly smaller height so as not to interfere with any process carried out on the glass. A small laterally surrounding protrusion 33 is provided.

Optionally, the piston 3o may be in contact only with the upper edge of the glass plate 1, and its weight and piston rod 29 may be attached to this upper edge.
The roughness of the lower surface of the piston 30 can be increased to help hold this glass plate 1 applied only by the weight of the piston 30.

The increase in the height of the projections 33 and the application thereof are both independent of the form of the application. If there is a danger that the glass plate 1 may bend or sink, for example if the temperature in the furnace is too high or if the glass plate remains in the furnace for a long time due to a malfunction, the piston rod 2
A fastener cooperating with 9 can be provided for each upper retaining means 3, this fastener having jaws, especially in its open position (not touching the glass at 8 and not touching the glass plate). When the piston becomes too soft or normally the piston 30
It closes to grab the glass plate when it escapes from its hold.

Such a fastener cooperating with the piston retaining means is the fourth
As shown in FIG.

Each fastener has two branches 34 articulated on a common axis 36
and 35 in length, and these branches are bent at their ends so as to be able to hold them, and they are also capable of gripping the whole glass and holding angles of the order of 600° to 700° without deterioration. Two clamps of known material capable of withstanding temperatures terminate at fittings or contact points 37 and 38.

The shaft 36 passes completely through the piston handle 29 and can be moved perpendicularly thereto in the directions indicated by the two arrows F. This l1IIIFi upper retaining means 3 can be mounted in any vertically movable position on the piston rod 29 or on the piston 30 itself 3, the other end of each school 34, 35 being articulated with an arm 39.40. ,
The two arms are mounted on a common fixed axis of the pivot 41, for example on the sleeve 26 which is explained in FIG. 3 and has the same effect in FIGS.

The size of the fasteners is such that they are opened in the working position.

Advantageously, the length of the branches 34 and 35, the proportion of the length of the branches on each side of the joint 36, and the position of the joint 36 on the piston 30 or piston rod 29 are such that the clamp is opened and the piston 30 is in the glass. Place it on the upper edge of r, i-;! l1 The two jaws 37 and 38 are at a height lower than the edge of the glass pane 1 and therefore located on either side of the upper edge part of the glass pane 1, so that in all cases the clamps do not grip, for example, and cannot function normally. Even if this is not the case, the lateral retention of the glass plate 1 is ensured when the edge of the glass plate 1 escapes from the piston 30.

In order to facilitate the bending of the glass plate 1 held in the movable frame 2, the lower support means 4 and the upper holding means 3 are arranged in a position such that the bent glass plate 1 is in the plane of the frame 2. It is arranged on the cross members 12 and 13.

Advantageously, to assist in holding the bent glass plate 1, three upper holding means are provided, including six counters identical to those shown in FIG. 2 and used to support the lower edge of the glass plate.
is attached to the intermediate transverse member 13 due to the bias of. However, when they are intended to take part in holding the upper part of the glass pane, their upper counterbalances have the opposite position to the lower counterbalances, i.e. they are suspended below the intermediate cross member 13. It will be lowered. If the blocks 2o are oriented downwards, they can hold the glass pane, but advantageously, the blocks 20 are provided with a piston mechanism as shown in FIG. 3 or as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively. It is replaced by a piston cooperating with a similar fastener. An alignment mechanism identical to that provided in the lower balance section is provided.

If the glass plate 1 slides downward for some reason as shown in FIG. , the piston 3o descends under the action of its weight and the weight of the clamping branches 34, 35 and stops in contact with the upper edge of the glass plate 1. For this purpose, the piston handle 29
The articulation axis 36 of the toe (2) is connected by arms 34 and 35 connected by arms 39 and 40 with fixed points formed on the axis of the pivot 4J attached to the sleeve 26. It is lowered the same distance so that closure occurs.

After a certain amount of lowering, the clamp closes the jaws 37 and 38 sufficiently to hold down and tighten the glass pane.

Once the fasteners have gripped the glass pane, the piston 30 cannot continue lowering as it is held in place by the arms 39 and 40 and the branches of the fasteners 34 and 35. Further lowering of the glass plate 1 is thus prevented.

The glass plate 1 inserted into the frame 2 is transferred to, for example, a glass heating furnace that applies a high temperature to the glass plate, and is placed in this furnace so that the glass plate 1 is rotated along the horizontal and/or vertical axes. It is brought to the curvature station where it is subjected to a circumferential bending action, and the degrees of freedom given to the lower support means 4 and the upper holding means 3 in this station make this curvature possible following tempering.

In principle, the surface of the glass sheet never comes into contact with the holding element, except in extraordinary circumstances, and the process is not disturbed in any way and no marks are left on the surface of the broken glass sheet.

In the event of an abnormal situation such as an abnormal height of the furnace, escape from the holding means, etc., the glass plate will continue to be held by the piston 30, which is configured to follow the sinking, and at its extreme point it will be grasped by the clamp. This prevents damage to the equipment and disturbances due to glass build-up when the glass plate falls from the frame and shatters, and also allows recovery of the glass plate.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows a transfer frame provided with upper and lower holding means of the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a modification of the lower support means for the glass plate in the transfer frame, and FIG. 4 shows the entire upper support means in the form of a piston cooperating with the fastener in the open position, and FIG. 5 shows the fastener in the closed position, i.e. 5 shows the retaining means in the form of a piston cooperating with the fastener of FIG. 4 in the gripping position of the glass pane; DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Glass plate, 2... Transfer frame, 3... Upper holding means, 4... Lower supporting means, -, 11, 12, 13.
...Horizontal member, 16...Rod, 17...Ring, 1
9... Horizontal m, 20... Contact block, 21... Platform, 22... Vertical rod, 23... Ruler, 24, 25, 39° 40... Arm, 26... Sleeve , 27...Ring, 29...Histonrono)"
, 30...piston, 34.35...branch, 36...
- Axis, 41... Pivoting axis. Patent applicant Saint-Gobain Vitraso 2 Patent application agent Akira Seki Kazuyuki Nishidate Patent attorney Kyosuke Nakayama Patent attorney Akira Yamaguchi Masaya Nishiyama Format) August 3, 1981 Commissioner of the Patent Office Gakudono Shiga1, Indication of the case 1982 Patent Application No. 957682, Name of the invention Glass plate holding frame 3, Person making the amendment Relationship to the case Patent applicant name: Saint-Gobain Vitrage 4, agent (4 others) 6. Drawings to be amended 7. Contents of amendment: engraving of drawings (no change in content) 8. Attached document list engraving drawings 1 copy

Claims (1)

[Claims] Twelve vertical upright members, a horizontal transverse member provided with support means 4 adapted to receive the lower edge of the glass plate, and a horizontal transverse member provided with support means 4 adapted to receive the upper part of the glass plate. a frame for holding a glass plate 1 in a vertical or nearly vertical position during its manufacture or processing, said holding means 3 applied to the upper edge of said glass plate; 2. Each holding means 3 is provided with a piston 30, the handle of which moves inside the guide sleeve 26. 3. A frame according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve 26 is arranged above the upper horizontal cross member 3 or above an element integral with this cross member, The frame according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the frame is arranged such that its height can be fully adjusted.4 A vertically movable piston 30 is connected to the fastener. , the two arms 34 and 35 of this fastener are the piston 3
0 or an arm 3 having a jaw 37,38 articulated on an axis 36 integral with the piston handle 29, terminating on one side and pivoting on the other side about a common fixed axis 4;
9. A frame according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each frame is connected to a frame 9.40. Takumi The frame according to claim 4, characterized in that the fixed shaft 41 is attached to the sleeve 26. 6. The fastener is dimensioned in such a way that when it is opened in its working position and the piston 30 and its handle 29 are lowered, it closes to bring the jaws into contact with the glass plate 1. The frame described in Range 4 or 5. Z The lower support means 4 are arranged on a shaft 22 or 16, in particular U-shaped.
A horizontal horizontal bar or plant 7 that freely rotates around the circumference of the
Frame according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is formed from blocks 20 carried at a height of one or more ohms 19.21. 8. A horizontal horizontal bar or platform supporting the contact block 20], 9 and 21 are mounted so as to be swingable in a vertical plane. . 9. A counterbalancing mechanism formed at one or more heights of a rotatable horizontal crossbar or platform around the circumference of the shaft 22 or 16 ensures that the upper holding means 3 and the frame supporting it are horizontally aligned. Any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is located between the transverse member in the direction.
The frame described in section. 10 Contact block 2 carried by two arms 24 and 25 swingably mounted on upright members 9, 10 of the frame
Fully equipped with 23 rulers for aligning 0, arms 24.25
in claim 7.8.9, characterized in that the length of the ruler 23 is such that this ruler 23 contacts the block 20 when placed under the action of gravity alone. The frame described in any one of the following. 11. During transport, heating, horizontal and bending of the glass around the vertical axes, and/or tempering, the frame described in any of the preceding claims may be used to hold the glass. How to use it for.